Traveling solo can be the ultimate retreat. You can wake up and venture out as early or late as you see fit, you can dine at the restaurants of your choice and can solely decide on which attractions and adventures are on your agenda. We talked with a range of expert travelers who have traveled alone, including Benjamin Liong Setiawan, aka “Hungry Editor”, a travel and lifestyle expert who shares some of his favorite places to visit solo in Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Costa Rica and more. Matthew Kepnes, aka “Nomadic Matt” also shared his best travel tips. And Kate McCulley, aka “Adventurous Kate” let us in on her favorite off-the-beaten-path solo vacation locations. Click through the slideshow to see the 50 best places to travel solo. And if you’re preparing to strike out on a trip alone, these expert solo travel tips will help ensure a safer, simpler, happier escape.
Solo Travel Tips
Don’t Rely on Your Phone
Grab a hotel business card from the front desk when you check in, says Charish Badzinski, who blogs at Roller Bag Goddess. Phone batteries die, so it’s important to have a hard copy of the hotel address when you’re traveling alone, in case you get lost. SOLO TIP: Ask the hotel clerk not to say your room number out loud during check-in. If that happens, request a different room, says Badzinksi.
Stay in Touch
You may be tempted to go off the radar on a solo trip, but it can prove dangerous in certain circumstances. It’s important that someone back home have a rough idea of where you were last, says James Cave, who writes at Portugalist. “Ideally you should have a detailed itinerary—including accommodation names and contact details—that you share with someone,” he says.
Scope It Out
When shopping for a hotel or Airbnb, check out the street view of the address on Google Maps to make sure it’s in a location you feel comfortable with, recommends travel expert Gemma Thompson, who writes at Girls That Travel. This will also help you identify your street when you arrive, she says.
Arrive During the Day
For budget solo travelers, it may be tempting to book cheaper off-hours flights, but travel expert Raksha Rao, who blogs at The Roving Heart, says orienting to a new place in the daylight is worth a little extra money when you’re traveling somewhere alone (or even in a group!). “Reaching a destination by night can open up a whole gamut of problems,”she says. “It’s easier to get from one place to another in the city during the day, and you feel safer.”
Trust Your Gut Instinct
Although much of the world is safer than you imagine—and that includes for safe for solo travelers, your gut instincts and suspicions can protect you. “It’s all right to walk away from situations or people you’re not comfortable with,” says Badzinksi. “You are not obligated to anyone.”
Additional Tips for Solo Travelers
Trying to save for a trip?Here’s how to save for traveling and not go broke! Traveling on a budget? Here are the best ways to travel for cheap. Lastly, check out 10 things you need to know about traveling abroad for the first time!
